Comparison

Phrases

Tongue Twister

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear.
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?

Song

The /ɪr/ sound

Words

ear, weird, here, hears, peer, tear, jeer, near, mere, rear, we’re

Comparison

Compare American verses British pronunciation of the words above.

ear

weird

here

hears

peer

tear

jeer

near

mere

rear

Phrases

have no fear

I’m all ears.

ten years

Hear! Hear!

Song

The /ɔr/ sound

Words

oars, north, roar, more, orange, George, four, fourth, born, door

Comparison

Compare American verses British pronunciation of the words above.

oars

north

roar

more

orange

George

four

fourth

born

door

Phrases

four more

Four score and seven years ago

born in the north

The lion roared.

Puzzle

Two Doors

There are two doors. Behind one door is a beautiful horse. Behind the other door is a roaring lion. Each door has a guard. One guard always tells the truth. The other guard always lies. What question can you ask so that you open the right door?

The /ʊr/ sound

I didn’t make a video for this sound here or in the ae Pronunciation app because it isn’t used that frequently in American English. Some people ask for it though because its British English counterpart /ʊə/ is used in quite a few words.

Here are some words that use /ʊə/ in British English:

poor, pure, cure, tour, assure, sure, lure

However, in American English from the above list only “pure” and “cure” (and for some people “sure”) use /ʊr/.

/ɔr/: poor

/ur/: tour, lure

/ɝ/: assure, (sure)

/ʊr/: pure, cure, (sure)

Other “R” sounds

You can put the /ɚ/ sound after most any vowel. Here are a few more examples for diphthongs: